Vatican, 24 April, 2025 / 11:40 pm (ACI Africa).
Pope Francis passed away at 7:35 a.m. local time on Easter Monday, April 21, at his residence in the Vatican’s Casa Santa Marta, as confirmed by the Holy See Press Office. The 88-year-old pontiff led the Catholic Church for a little more than 12 years.
Follow here for live updates of the latest news and information on the papal transition:
More than 128,000 mourners pay respects to Pope Francis at St. Peter’s
More than 128,000 people have visited St. Peter's Basilica to pay their final respects to Pope Francis, according to figures released by the Holy See Press Office on Friday afternoon.
The basilica, which remained open until 2:30 a.m. before reopening at 5:40 a.m. this morning, has seen a constant stream of mourners filing past the late pontiff's body since it was first placed on public view on Wednesday morning.
The Vatican reports that the extraordinary influx of pilgrims began at 11:00 a.m. on Wednesday and continued through 8:00 a.m. Friday, with many waiting hours in line for a brief moment to bid farewell to the 266th successor of St. Peter.
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">Thousands of pilgrims are paying their respects to Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica after waiting about 5 hours in line. ???????? <a href="https://twitter.com/hashtag/PopeFrancis?src=hash&ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw">#PopeFrancis</a> <a href="https://t.co/suMkyEhLkP">pic.twitter.com/suMkyEhLkP</a></p>— EWTN News (@EWTNews) <a href="
23, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>Thousands of pilgrims are paying their respects to Pope Francis in St. Peter’s Basilica after waiting about 5 hours in line. 🙏🏻 #PopeFrancis pic.twitter.com/suMkyEhLkP
— EWTN News (@EWTNews) April 23, 2025
Pope Francis' body will remain on display until late Friday evening, with his funeral scheduled for tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m. Rome time in St. Peter's Square.
Cardinal Becciu reportedly seeks conclave vote despite lost privileges
Cardinal Angelo Becciu is reportedly seeking to participate in the upcoming conclave despite having been stripped of his cardinalatial privileges in 2020 and later convicted of financial crimes.
The former deputy Vatican secretary of state tells Italian media he will “participate in the conclave,” claiming his cardinal privileges “remain intact.”
says that he is refusing to politicize Pope Francis’ death.
Cardinal Vinko Puljić confirms attendance at conclave after medical clearance
Cardinal Vinko Puljić, Archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina) | Credit: Archdiocese of Sarajevo
Cardinal Vinko Puljić, the Archbishop emeritus of Sarajevo (Bosnia-Herzegovina), will attend the upcoming conclave after receiving medical clearance, reversing his earlier announcement that health concerns would prevent his participation.
According to a statement released Thursday by the Archdiocese of Sarajevo, Cardinal Puljić received a "positive medical assessment" clearing him to travel to Rome and participate in both the General Congregations and the conclave to elect Pope Francis' successor.
Having received this medical clearance on Thursday, the cardinal will not be able to attend Pope Francis' funeral and burial on Saturday, but "will travel to the Eternal City next week and join the College of Cardinals," the statement says.
Cardinal Tagle leads fourth Rosary for Pope Francis at St. Mary Major Basilica
Filipino Cardinal Luis Antonio Gokim Tagle leads the fourth evening Rosary in memory of Pope Francis on Thursday at the Papal Basilica of Saint Mary Major, where the late pontiff will be buried following Saturday's funeral.
Tagle reflects on today's Gospel reading of the Risen Jesus appearing to His troubled disciples, asking them, "Why are you troubled? And why do questions arise in your hearts?"
"These words of the Risen Christ are addressed to each of us to give hope and certainty to our lives," Cardinal Tagle says, explaining that Jesus "came to give us life, a life that will have no end."
This prayer service marks the fourth in a series being held during the nine-day mourning period, which will culminate with the pope's funeral and burial at St. Mary Major on Saturday, April 26.
The people who knew Bergoglio best: Pope Francis
Before becoming Pope Francis, he was Jorge Mario Bergoglio, the powerful archbishop of Buenos Aires in Argentina. EWTN’s Colm Flynn travels to Pope Francis’ home city to meet the friends and family who knew him best:
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Jesuit superior Father Sosa: Pope Francis did not seek popularity
Father Arturo Sosa, SJ, superior general of the Society of Jesus, reflected on the first Jesuit pope in a press conference on Thursday, saying Francis “did not seek to please everyone” or to measure himself by a popularity index.
“Once he chose to be a disciple of Jesus, his deep motivation in life was to put God’s will into practice,” Sosa said, calling the late pontiff “a man of prayer, who asked for prayers to make decisions according to the will of God.”
Jesuit Superior General Father Arturo Sosa, SJ, center, speaks about Pope Francis at a press conference at the Jesuit general curia in Rome on April 24, 2025. Credit: Hannah Brockhaus/CNA
How to watch Pope Francis’ funeral on EWTN
How can you watch Pope Francis’ funeral on Saturday?
Here is a schedule of EWTN coverage of the funeral and of prayerful events during the interregnum.
EWTN News Vatican correspondent Paola Arriaza, Monsignor Roger Landry of the Pontifical Mission Societies, and Matthew Bunson, vice president and editorial director of EWTN News, are leading coverage live from Rome as we mourn the passing of Pope Francis and pray for his eternal rest and peace. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
China largely silent on Pope Francis’ death amid global tributes
High-ranking heads of state and Catholic bishops in China have remained notably silent following the death of Pope Francis, while reactions from political and religious leaders across the globe poured out on social media within hours of the pope’s passing on Monday morning.
AsiaNews reported on Tuesday that Chinese officials are not permitted to express themselves publicly on Pope Francis’ death due the Chinese Communist Party (CCP)’s control over the Church there.
A worshipper waves the flag of China as Pope Francis leaves following the weekly general audience on June 12, 2019, at St. Peter's Square at the Vatican. Credit: FILIPPO MONTEFORTE/AFP via Getty Images
Top ecumenical initiatives of Pope Francis: a retrospective
Like all popes since the Second Vatican Council, Pope Francis made a point of reaching out to non-Catholics, building bridges and engaging in dialogue. His consistent efforts toward Christian unity over his 12-year pontificate produced several historic moments in ecumenical relations.
While his interreligious achievements — like the 2019 Abu Dhabi declaration on human fraternity, signed by Pope Francis and the grand imam of Al-Azhar, Ahmed Al-Tayeb — have often garnered greater attention, the pope’s ecumenical initiatives with other Christian communities have also left a meaningful mark on his legacy.
Celebrities who met Pope Francis share their memories of the late pontiff
Celebrities who had the opportunity to meet Pope Francis during his papacy are remembering the late pontiff, sharing their experiences with the pope and reflecting on his warmth and legacy.
A group of comedians and humorists, including Chris Rock and Jimmy Fallon (center), share a lighthearted exchange with Pope Francis during a gathering with the pope in the Apostolic Palace at the Vatican on June 14, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media
Here are the cardinals offering Masses for the 9 days of mourning for Pope Francis
Following the death of Pope Francis, the Vatican has announced which cardinals will offer the traditional “Novendialies” Masses — nine days of mourning marked by solemn Masses offered for the repose of the soul of the deceased pope.
In keeping with ancient custom, each day of the Novendiales includes a requiem Mass following the Ordo Exsequiarum Romani Pontificis (2024). While the Masses are open to the public, each day traditionally focuses on a particular community or group associated with the pope’s ministry from the Diocese of Rome to the Eastern Churches.
Find out who will say the Novendiales Masses here.
Cardinals process past Pope Francis' body in St. Peter's Basilica, Wednesday, April 23, 2025. Credit: Vatican Media
Pope Francis’ love for prisoners remained until the end
Prisoners always held a special place in Pope Francis’ heart, and he demonstrated his love for them throughout his pontificate.
Pope Francis greets an inmate after Mass in Rome’s Rebibbia Prison Complex on the feast of St. Stephen, Dec. 26, 2024. Credit: Vatican Media
More than 90,000 pass through St. Peter’s to pay respects to Pope Francis
The Holy See Press Office announces that since yesterday at 11 a.m., when St. Peter’s Basilica opened to the public for mourners to say their final goodbyes to Pope Francis, until 7 p.m. Thursday evening, more than 90,000 people have passed through the basilica to pay their respects to Pope Francis.
Mourners pass through St. Peter’s Basilica on April 24, 2025, at the Vatican to pay their respects and say a final goodbye to Pope Francis. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Mourners pass through St. Peter’s Basilica on April 24, 2025, at the Vatican to pay their respects and say a final goodbye to Pope Francis. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
How Pope Francis spread devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots
Of the many devotions Pope Francis promoted during his pontificate, perhaps none is better known than his devotion to Our Lady, Undoer of Knots (also referred to as Our Lady, Untier of Knots).
Read more about his devotion here.
Remembering Pope Francis’ many apostolic journeys abroad
Pope Francis traveled abroad on apostolic journeys nearly 50 times during his 12-year papacy. The octagenarian pope continued to travel even after being hampered for a time by the COVID-19 pandemic and battling failing health in the latter years of his life.
Francis’ 47 apostolic journeys brought him to 68 countries, Vatican News reported Monday — and those journeys included a number of papal firsts.
More than 61,000 visit St. Peter’s Basilica so far for Pope Francis’ viewing
<blockquote class="twitter-tweet"><p lang="en" dir="ltr">More than 61,000 people have visited St. Peter’s Basilica since Wednesday to bid farewell to Pope Francis, Vatican authorities report. The basilica briefly closed Thursday morning. Pilgrims, clergy, and dignitaries continue to arrive, with extended hours allowing global mourners… <a href="https://t.co/y2hX4io8HR">pic.twitter.com/y2hX4io8HR</a></p>— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) <a href="
24, 2025</a></blockquote> <script async src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js" charset="utf-8"></script>More than 61,000 people have visited St. Peter’s Basilica since Wednesday to bid farewell to Pope Francis, Vatican authorities report. The basilica briefly closed Thursday morning. Pilgrims, clergy, and dignitaries continue to arrive, with extended hours allowing global mourners… pic.twitter.com/y2hX4io8HR
— EWTN Vatican (@EWTNVatican) April 24, 2025
Cardinals start conversation on Church, world ahead of conclave
The 113 cardinals now present in Rome are beginning to discuss “the Church and the world” in pre-conclave meetings at the Vatican, according to the Holy See Press Office.
The College of Cardinals, which met in the third general congregation for two and half hours on Thursday morning, is also finalizing details about their next meetings, including the choice of Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, former papal preacher, to give the meditation on the first day of the conclave. Abbot Donato Ogliari, OSB, will give the meditation at the start of next week.
Cardinal Raniero Cantalamessa, OFM Cap, gives the homily at the Good Friday liturgy in St. Peter's Basilica in Rome on March 29, 2024. Credit: Daniel Ibañez/CNA
Other topics of discussion among the cardinals include further papal funeral and burial organization, and changes to who will celebrate the daily Masses for Pope Francis during the Novendiales, or nine days of mourning.